Pretend You're Safe
The Agency #1
by Alexandra Ivy
Releasing August 29th, 2017
Zebra
Releasing August 29th, 2017
Zebra
Romantic Suspense
In Pretend You're Safe (The Agency #1) by Alexandra Ivy, when a flood rips through the town Jaci Patterson lives in, she believes her worst nightmare has started all over again, especially when she receives a golden locket; the same sort she received when she was sixteen. However, this time people are more inclined to believe her than they were back then due to the bodies that have been discovered. Yet, as the body count rises and more women go missing, will Rylan Cooper be able to keep Jaci safe, or will the killer that believes Jaci is his end Jaci and Rylan's chance at happy ever after?
Ms. Ivy has such an extraordinary ability to write romantic suspense that are gripping, fast-paced and compelling from start to finish and this book certainly proves how good this author is. The way this story started had me feeling sorry for the heroine, as what happened in the past has affected her more than anyone knows, especially now that what happened in the past is beginning to occur again. Will Jaci and Rylan figure out who the killer is before it's too late? However, it was from the moment the hero and heroine came face-to-face again for the first time in years that made this story very intriguing, as Jaci treats Rylan like the enemy.
As for the dialogue, it was riveting and told by a few points of view such as the hero and heroine as well as the town sheriff and the killer. Every point-of-view was necessary, and I found each perspective attention-grabbing, so much so that I could not put this book down. Moreover, the heroine is resilient, courageous and I liked her stubbornness. It shows she's not going to back down and let the bad guy send her running. I also liked how she handled everything that was thrown her way, even though it's a painful reminder of her past torment and the fact that no one believed the lockets she was receiving were more than a prank. Yet, what I liked most of all about the heroine is how she isn't afraid to go head-to-head with her estranged family and does her best to show that their alienation doesn't affect her, even though it does very much.
While the hero, he's done very well for himself and I loved discovering everything about his back story. He's also confident, protective and I liked how determined he was to find the person responsible for terrorizing Jaci. I also liked how he won the heroine over and wasn't afraid to admit he made some bad judgment calls in the past. Yet, what I liked most about the hero was how far Rylan was willing to go to protect Jaci, even when things take a very dangerous turn for him and he has to challenge the sheriff to be allowed to be involved after what happens to him.
Overall, Ms. Ivy has penned a fantastic romantic suspense in this book where the chemistry between this couple was powerful, the romance wonderful, and the ending had me worried for the enchanting main characters due to what they go through because of the bad guy. However, it was the last chapter that wrapped this story up nicely, as Rylan is determined to do whatever it takes to take Jaci away, so she can have a break from everything that's happened. I would recommend Pretend You're Safe by Alexandra Ivy, if you enjoy romantic suspense, the enemy to lovers trope, the sexy protector trope or books by authors Sharon Sala, AJ Nuest, Toni Anderson and Cynthia Eden.
He Sees You
First came the
floods. Then came the bodies. The victims—strangled, then buried
along the shores of the Mississippi—have finally been unearthed,
years after they disappeared. He remembers every satisfying kill . .
. each woman’s terror and agony. But there’s only one he truly
wanted. And fate has brought her within reach again . . .
He Knows You
Jaci Patterson was
sixteen when she found the first golden locket on her porch. Inside
were a few strands of hair wrapped around a scrap of bloodstained
ribbon. Though the “gifts” kept arriving, no one believed her
hunch that a serial killer was at work. Now Jaci has returned home .
. . and the nightmare is starting once more.
And He’ll Never
Let You Go
Back then, Rylan
Cooper was an arrogant deputy sheriff convinced that Jaci was just an
attention-seeking teen. It was a fatal mistake. There’s a murderer
in their midst, someone determined to settle old scores and keep
playing a twisted game. And it won’t end until Jaci is his forever
. . .
“Alexandra Ivy
gives readers a nice balance of romance and suspense in her
fast-paced, well-plotted novel.” --Kat Martin, New York
Times bestselling author.
Amazon
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a Million * Kobo
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On some level Jaci knew that Elmer was keeping up a
running conversation, but it was impossible to make out the words over the
buzzing in her head. And thankfully the older man didn’t seem to expect a
response as he coaxed her to drink the overly sweet coffee and eat one of the
muffins she’d baked earlier that morning.
God, it seemed a lifetime ago.
Since then, a dead body had been found floating in a
field. And a skull. The sheriff had dismissed her fears as if she was a
whackadoodle. She’d endured a meeting with her mother. And her mysterious
stalker had made a return, leaving one of his creepy lockets for her to find.
She didn’t know which was worse.
As she finished the muffin, however, the sugar kicked
in and her shock began to ease. At least enough to be aware of the sound of the
back door closing and Rylan moving to stand next to the sofa.
Tilting her head, she felt the familiar jolt of
awareness.
The same awareness she’d felt when she’d returned home
to see Rylan standing in her front yard. And again when she’d opened her eyes
minutes ago to find him bending over her, his expression tight with concern.
Heck, she’d been aware of this man since she first
understood the difference between boys and girls.
From a very young age, Rylan had been stunningly
handsome. His features were finely chiseled, with a proud, aquiline nose and
wide brow. His eyes had always been a fascinating shade of gold, but they were
emphasized since his move to California, where his skin had been tanned to a
rich bronze and his hair had been bleached to a light blond.
He also had the sort of body that made a woman itch to
run her hands over every inch of his hard, perfectly sculpted muscles.
But it was his raw, male power that captured and held
her attention. He had a potent energy that could fill a room and stir a woman’s
deepest fantasy.
It was really no surprise she’d been plagued by a
desperate puppy love for her gorgeous neighbor. Even when he’d made it
painfully clear that he wasn’t, and never would be interested in her as more
than a friend.
She was a young woman in a town where gorgeous men
were few and far between. The only surprise would be if she hadn’t been
obsessed with Rylan Cooper.
Now she grimly squashed her predictable response to
his presence as she glanced toward the window. She could hear people moving
around her porch, but she couldn’t see anyone.
“Where’s Mike?” she demanded.
Rylan’s gaze moved to the tray she’d set on the low
coffee table, as if assessing whether or not he was satisfied with how much
she’d managed to eat.
“He’s doling out duties to his deputies,” he at last
said. “He’ll be in once he’s done.”
She frowned in confusion. “What duties?”
“Dusting for prints and taking pictures.”
“I asked Ed to photograph your driveway as well as the
yard for any footprints,” Mike explained as he entered the living room, clearly
having used the back door. “It’s a long shot, but it’s better than nothing.”
“Mike.” She managed a shaky smile as she watched her
friend move across the room, taking a seat on the sofa next to her.
“Hey, Jaci.” He removed his hat, then reached to take
her hand so he could give it a tight squeeze. “I’m so sorry. I should have
listened to you earlier.”
She wrinkled her nose. “It doesn’t matter now.”
“It does, but we’ll discuss it later,” he said. Mike
was the sort of person who was always harder on himself than anyone else. He
glanced toward the looming Rylan. “We’ll need some privacy.”
Rylan frowned, clearly not happy. “Why?”
Elmer moved to grab his son’s arm. “Come on, Ry.”
Rylan dug in his heels. “No.”
Mike narrowed his gaze. “Is there a problem?”
“Yeah,” Rylan said, his jaw tight. “Jaci just suffered
a severe shock. I’m not leaving her here alone.”
Mike scowled. “She’s not alone.”
With a firm tug, Elmer was urging his son out of the
room. “We’ll be in the kitchen.”
Mike watched them leave before he turned his attention
back to Jaci.
“Is there something I should know?”
She gave a slow shake of her head. Rylan had always
been the sort of guy who stuck up for the underdog. He’d punched the local
bully, Joey Burke, in the nose for picking on the younger boys. And risked his
neck to save a baby duck that was trapped in an abandoned well.
Was he feeling some need to be her protector because
she’d fainted?
Or was it a symptom of his guilt because he hadn’t
believed her when she’d asked for his help all those years ago?
“I think the world’s gone insane,” she said.
“Me too,” Mike agreed. He sounded like his day had
been almost as crappy as Jaci’s. Quite a feat. “Now tell me about the locket.”
Jaci gave an abbreviated version of her return home to
find the necklace hanging on her doorknob.
She didn’t need to share her breathless reaction when
she’d first caught sight of Rylan. Or her awkward haste to get rid of him,
which explained why she hadn’t noticed the locket until she was just inches
from the door.
Mike nodded, reaching beneath his jacket to pull out a
small notebook and pencil that he’d no doubt bought at the local dollar store.
In this area, cops had a limited budget. They had to trim costs whenever
possible.
“Did you notice anyone when you were driving home?”
Assuming he meant after she’d turned onto the gravel road that ran in front of
her house, she gave a shake of her head.
“No.” She stiffened as she recalled the SUV. “Oh.”
“What?”
“I thought I saw Blake, but I can’t imagine what he’d
be doing out here.” She shrugged. “Besides, I spoke to Mother when I was in
Baldwin and she mentioned he was flying back from St. Louis later tonight.”
A strange expression settled on his blunt features.
“What about Christopher?”
“What about him?”
“Did you see him today?”
She stared at him in confusion. “I haven’t seen my
half brother for almost two years, although I heard he’s back home,” she said.
Mike didn’t bother to write anything in his notebook.
Instead he abruptly changed the direction of his questions.
“Is there anyone you can think of who would want to
scare you?”
It was a question that had haunted her for years.
“No.”
“Any enemies?” He held up a hand as her lips parted.
“Even if you don’t think they would leave the locket?”
“No.”
“You’re sure?” he pressed. “You’re a beautiful woman
with a growing business. That can make people jealous. Especially if they think
your success has come at their expense.”
She forced herself to consider his words.
It was true that there had been a few local ladies who
had their noses out of joint at the high demand for her pastries. And there had
been at least two farmers who’d tried to pressure her into selling her
grandfather’s land after his death.
But they certainly weren’t her enemies.
Well, not unless she counted her half sister, Payton.
But she couldn’t make herself believe the younger woman would sneak around to
try and terrify her. She far preferred being a bitch in public.
“I really can’t think of anyone,” Jaci insisted.
Mike tapped his pencil on the notebook. “There haven’t
been any other threats?”
“What do you mean?”
“Strange phone calls? Letters? E-mails?”
She frowned with impatience. Why was he wasting time?
“Mike, we both know this isn’t about some neighbor who’s
pissed off about me baking muffins or selling crafts in my garage. The locket
has something to do with that body you found this morning.”
His lips flattened. “I don’t want to leap to
conclusions.” She flinched, disappointment slicing through her. How many times
did she have to go through this?
First the fear. The knowledge some sicko was out there
playing with her emotions. Then the pain at the realization that no one
believed her.
“Right.”
She started to stand, only to be halted when Mike
placed a restraining hand on her shoulder.
“Jaci, I’m trying to protect you,” he growled.
“Something I can’t do if I don’t keep an open mind and investigate every
potential threat.”
There was a sincerity etched on his face that made her
heave a small sigh.
“I’m sorry.” She wrapped her arms around her waist.
She felt chilled to the bone. “I just can’t believe this is starting again.”
His hand lightly glided over her shoulder and down her
arm. “You know you can stay with me until we figure this out.”
It was tempting. Not only because she was a little
itchy at the thought of remaining in such an isolated spot on her own. But
because no lunatic would dare to try and get to her while she was in the
protective custody of the sheriff.
Only the knowledge that she couldn’t hide in Mike’s
house forever made her stiffen her backbone.
She had a life. And this was her home.
She wasn’t going to let the mysterious jerk steal
either of them from her.
Alexandra
Ivy is the New York Times, USA Today and Wall
Street Journal bestselling author of romantic suspense,
paranormal and erotic romance. She has also written Regency
historicals under the name Deborah Raleigh. A five-time RT Book Award
Finalist, Ivy has received much acclaim for her Guardians of
Eternity, ARES Security, Immortal Rogues and Sentinels series. She
lives with her family in Missouri and can be found online
at AlexandraIvy.com.
I am getting around to reading this. I love this author's books.
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